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The Negro and Slavery in Early Iowa.
From The Io?/a Journal of History and Politics, Volume II (1904)
[p. 471] As early^ as 1839 the question of the Negro made itself .felt in Iowa. In that year "An Act to Regulate Blacks and Mulattoes" was passed by the Legislative Assembly. By the provisions of this act every Negro and Mulattoe before entering the Territory was recpiired to show a certificate of freedom, under seal of a judge or justice and to secure and give a bond of §500 to insure his good behavior. On failure to comply with these provisions proceedings for the seizure of the offender were to be instituted at once; and any person Mring or engaging any Ne.gro or Mulatto ?/ho had not given bond was subject to a fine of not less than five nor move than flOO.
The earliest slave case in the Mstory of l0¥/a was In the Matter of Ralph (a colored man) on Habeas Corpus
which came before the supreme court of the Territory
2 at the July term in 1839. Ralph, had been a slave in
Missouri, but had contracted with his master to \¥ork in
Iowa and to purchase his freedomx at the end of five
years on payment of $650 ?/i th .five years' interest.
Failing to make pp.7/ment, he was seized by his master.
Laws of low a, 1828-39, p. 65.
2
1 Morris, 1.

The Negro and Slavery in Early Iowa.
From The Io?/a Journal of History and Politics, Volume II (1904)
[p. 471] As early^ as 1839 the question of the Negro made itself .felt in Iowa. In that year "An Act to Regulate Blacks and Mulattoes" was passed by the Legislative Assembly. By the provisions of this act every Negro and Mulattoe before entering the Territory was recpiired to show a certificate of freedom, under seal of a judge or justice and to secure and give a bond of §500 to insure his good behavior. On failure to comply with these provisions proceedings for the seizure of the offender were to be instituted at once; and any person Mring or engaging any Ne.gro or Mulatto ?/ho had not given bond was subject to a fine of not less than five nor move than flOO.
The earliest slave case in the Mstory of l0¥/a was In the Matter of Ralph (a colored man) on Habeas Corpus
which came before the supreme court of the Territory
2 at the July term in 1839. Ralph, had been a slave in
Missouri, but had contracted with his master to \¥ork in
Iowa and to purchase his freedomx at the end of five
years on payment of $650 ?/i th .five years' interest.
Failing to make pp.7/ment, he was seized by his master.
Laws of low a, 1828-39, p. 65.
2
1 Morris, 1.